List of people who have opened the Olympic Games

Opening ceremony

The IOC factsheet on the opening ceremony states: "According to the Olympic Charter protocol, the duty of declaring the Games officially open falls to the head of state of the host country. Those who have performed this task are royalty and presidents, or their representatives, whether it was a vice-president, a member of the royal family, or a governor-general". Rule 56 of Chapter 5 of the Olympic Charter sets out the exact words that are to be declared by the person opening the Games. If at a Summer Olympic Games, the words to be said are: I declare open the Games of [name of the host city], celebrating the [ordinal number of the Olympiad] Olympiad of the modern era. When at a Winter Olympic Games, the dignitary opening the Games is to proclaim: I declare open the [number of the Olympic Winter Games] Olympic Winter Games of [name of the host city]. However, this has not always been followed strictly;

On 30 July 1932, US vice president Charles Curtis opened the Los Angeles Summer Olympics with: :* "In the name, of the President of the United States, I proclaim open the Olympic Games of Los Angeles, celebrating the X Olympiad of the modern era."*

On 1 August 1936, Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, opened the Games in Berlin in exact format in German: :"I proclaim open the Olympic Games of Berlin, celebrating the XI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 29 July 1948, King George VI of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, opened the Olympic Games of London in exact format: :"I proclaim open the Olympic Games of London, celebrating the XIV Olympiad of the modern era."

On 19 July 1952, Juho Kusti Paasikivi, President of Finland, opened the Olympic Games on Helsinki in exact format in English and Finnish: :"I declare open the Olympic Games of Helsinki, celebrating the XV Olympiad of the modern era."

On 22 November 1956, the Duke of Edinburgh opened the Games of Melbourne in exact format: :"I declare open the Olympic Games of Melbourne, celebrating the XVI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 27 August 1960, Giovanni Gronchi, President of the Italian Republic, declares the Summer Olympics in Rome open by speaking in Italian: :"I proclaim the opening of the Olympic Games of Rome, celebrating the XVII Olympiad of the modern era."

On 10 October 1964, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, opened the Summer Olympics in Tokyo by speaking in Japanese: :"Celebrating the XVIII modern Olympiad, we hereby declare the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games."

On 12 October 1968, Mexican president Gustavo Diaz Ordaz opened the Games of Mexico City in Spanish: :"Today, 12 October 1968, I declare inaugurated the Olympic Games in Mexico, that commemorate the XIX Olympiad of the modern era."

On 26 August 1972, German president Gustav Heinemann opened the Games of Munich speaking in German: :"I declare the Olympic Games Munich 1972, celebrating the XX Olympiad of the modern era, open."

On 17 July 1976, Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, opened the Montreal Olympics (first in French followed by the English) with: :"I declare open the Olympic Games of 1976, celebrating the XXI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 11 February 1980, US vice president Walter Mondale opened the Lake Placid Winter Games with: :"On behalf of the President of the United States, I declare open the 13th Winter Olympic Games of Lake Placid."

On 19 July 1980, Leonid Brezhnev, as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union,IOC records state Brezhnev opened the Moscow Games as "President", a title used at that time by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, or de jure head of state. (The office of President of the Soviet Union was not created until 1990, a year before the nation broke up.) Though Brezhnev was de facto ruler serving as the General Secretary of the Communist Party, that title is not reflected in IOC records. opened the Moscow Summer Olympics speaking in Russian: :"Mr. President of International Olympic Committee! Sportsmen of the world! Dear guests! Comrades! I declare the Olympic Games of 1980, celebrating the XXII Olympiad of the modern era, now open."

On 28 July 1984, US president Ronald Reagan opened the Los Angeles Summer Olympics with: :"Celebrating the XXIII Olympiad of the modern era, I declare open the Olympic Games of Los Angeles."

On 17 September 1988, President of the Republic of Korea, Roh Tae-woo opened the Summer Olympics in Seoul by speaking in Korean: :"In celebration of the 24th modern Olympic Games, I declare the Seoul Olympic Games open."

On 25 July 1992, King Juan Carlos I of Spain opened the Barcelona Summer Olympics by saying: :"(In Catalan) Welcome all to Barcelona. (In Spanish) Today, 25 July of the Year 1992, I declare open the Barcelona Olympic Games that celebrate the XXV Olympiad of the modern era."

On 12 February 1994, King Harald V of Norway opened the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer by speaking in Norwegian: :"I hereby declare opened the XVII Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer."

On 19 July 1996, US president Bill Clinton opened the Atlanta Summer Olympics with the exact format: :"I declare open the Games of Atlanta, celebrating the XXVI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 7 February 1998, Emperor Akihito of Japan opened the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano by speaking in Japanese: :"Here, I will declare the opening of the XVIII Olympic Winter Games in Nagano."

On 15 September 2000, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Sir William Deane opened the Sydney Summer Olympics with the exact format: :"I declare open the Games of Sydney, celebrating the XXVII Olympiad of the modern era."

On 8 February 2002, US president George W. Bush opened the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, which took place five months after the September 11 attacks using the format of the Summer Games declaration with: :"On behalf of a proud, determined and grateful nation, I declare open the Games of Salt Lake City, celebrating the Olympic Winter Games."

On 13 August 2004, Konstantinos Stephanopoulos, President of the Hellenic Republic, opened the Athens Summer Olympics, accompanied by the Adjutant to the President of the Hellenic Republic Colonel Georgios Dritsakos of the Hellenic Air Force, by speaking in Greek: :"I declare the opening of the Olympic Games of Athens... and the celebration of the XXVIII Olympiad of the modern era."

On 10 February 2006, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, President of the Italian Republic, opened the Turin Olympic Winter Games using the format of the Summer Games declaration by speaking in Italian: :"I declare open, in Turin, the celebration of the XX Winter Olympic Games."

On 8 August 2008, Hu Jintao, as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President of China, opened the Beijing Summer Olympics by saying:

:**

On 12 February 2010, the Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, opened the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver using the format of the Summer Games declaration by saying in French and English: :"I declare open the Games of Vancouver, celebrating the 21st Olympic Winter Games."

On 27 July 2012, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, declared the opening of the 2012 London Summer Olympics with the exact format: :"I declare open the Games of London, celebrating the XXX Olympiad of the modern era."

On 7 February 2014, Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, declares the opening of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics by saying: :

On 5 August 2016, Brazilian vice president Michel Temer, as acting president during the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff's powers and duties, opened the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro by speaking in Brazilian Portuguese: :"After this wonderful spectacle, I declare open the Rio Olympic Games, celebrating the XXXI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 9 February 2018, Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea, declares the opening of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics by speaking in Korean:

On 23 July 2021, Emperor Naruhito opened the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic), by speaking in Japanese: :"I hereby declare the opening of the Tokyo Games to commemorate the XXXII Modern Olympiad."

On 4 February 2022, Xi Jinping, as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President of China, opened the Beijing Winter Olympics by saying:

On 26 July 2024, Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, declares the opening of the Paris Summer Olympics by speaking in French: :"I proclaim open the Games of Paris, celebrating the XXXIII Olympiad of the modern times."

Records

As of 2024, there have been 50 different individuals who opened either the Summer or Winter Olympic Games. Four of them have done so more than once. German führer Adolf Hitler was the first person to open more than one Olympic Games; he opened the 1936 Winter and Summer Olympics, both of which were hosted in Germany. He remains the only one to open more than one Games in the same year.

Italian president Giovanni Gronchi opened the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo and the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He was the first democratically elected head of state to open more than one Olympic Games.

Japanese emperor Hirohito opened the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo. He was the first non-European to open more than one Olympic Games.

Queen Elizabeth II opened the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain. The first and only head of state to open the Summer Games more than once, she was also the only woman to open any Summer Olympics as of 2024, and the only one to do so in different host countries. Aside from declaring open the Games by herself, she was represented during the declaration four times: in the 1956 and 2000 Summer Olympics – both were held in Australia – as well as the 1988 and 2010 Winter Olympics – both were held in Canada. The first woman to open any Olympic Games was Princess Ragnhild of Norway in 1952. Aged 21, she was also the youngest person to have opened the Olympic Games.

Norwegian King Harald V became the first person to open both the regular Olympics and Youth Olympics, having opened the 1994 Winter and 2016 Winter Youth Games. He was followed by Chinese president and Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping, who opened the 2014 Summer Youth and 2022 Winter Games.

Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean became the first Black person to open any Olympic Games.

Dignitaries who have opened the Summer Olympics

Notes:

Dignitaries who have opened the Winter Olympics

Dignitaries who have opened the Youth Olympic Games

Notes:

References

References

1. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-13-sp-22549-story.html ''Los Angeles Times'' article published February 13, 1994]
2. (12 February 2010). "Opening Ceremony: 2010 Winter Games declared open".
3. (4 February 2022). "Beijing 2022: Winter Olympics opening ceremony – as it happened". The Guardian.
4. "Athens 1896 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
5. "Paris 1900 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
6. "St Louis 1904 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
7. "London 1908 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
8. "Stockholm 1912 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
9. "Antwerp 1920 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
10. "Paris 1924 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
11. "Amsterdam 1928 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
12. "Los Angeles 1932 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
13. (11 January 2018). "Factsheet – Opening Ceremony of the Games of the Olympiad". International Olympic Committee.
14. "Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
15. "London 1948 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
16. "Helsinki 1952 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
17. "Melbourne-Stockholm 1956 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
18. "1956 Stockholm Equestrian Games".
19. "Rome 1960 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
20. "Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
21. "Mexico City 1968 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
22. "Munich 1972 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
23. "Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
24. "Moscow 1980 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
25. "Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
26. "Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
27. "Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
28. "Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
29. "Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
30. (24 March 2016). "Get ready to watch the Opening Ceremony: Heads of state". NBC.
31. (16 September 2000). "Down Wonders". LA Times.
32. (10 September 2000). "History Lesson Despite the stereotypes, don't expect to run into Crocodile Dundee at the Sydney Games". New York Daily News.
33. (21 March 2000). "Australia: Britain's Queen Elizabeth Visit". AP Archive.
34. "Athens 2004 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
35. "Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
36. (27 July 2012). "London 2012 Olympics launches with huge ceremony". [[BBC News]].
37. (23 July 2021). "Tokyo's Olympic flame burns at last after subdued ceremony". The Nikkei.
38. "Chamonix 1924 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
39. "St Moritz 1928 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
40. "Lake Placid 1932 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
41. (11 January 2018). "Factsheet – Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games". International Olympic Committee.
42. "Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
43. "St Moritz 1948 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
44. "Oslo 1952 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
45. "Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
46. "Squaw Valley 1960 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
47. "Innsbruck 1964 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
48. "Grenoble 1968 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
49. "Sapporo 1972 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
50. "Innsbruck 1976 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
51. "Lake Placid 1980 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
52. "Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
53. "Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
54. "Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
55. "Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
56. "Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
57. "Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
58. "Turin 2006 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee.
59. (February 8, 2010). "Governor General to Open the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games". Governor General of Canada.
60. Sam Sheringham. (February 7, 2014). "Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics opens with glittering ceremony". BBC.
61. (19 November 2013). "IOC President meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping". International Olympic Committee.